Thursday, November 15, 2007
Django faces Bata in Negros 9-Ball
DUMAGUETE City - The Philippines’ one-two punch and bossom buddies Efren Bata Reyes and Francisco Bustamante will take each other out in the opening of the Negros Oriental International 9-Ball Championships at the Dumaguete Convention Center.
“There is nothing we can do, that’s what came out in the draw,” said Bustamante, who said he couldn’t sleep for two days after his defeat to eventual winner Daryl Peach in the semifinal of the recent 2007 Philippine World Pool Championships
The 43-year-old 2002 WPC runnerup, said yesterday that he has already accepted his setbacks in the prestigious World 9-Ball Tour.
“There are still many chances to win the WPC. Right now, I’ll just have to focus on the Negros International 9-Ball,” Bustamante said.
The survivor of Reyes and Bustamante tussle will face the winner of the Dennis Orcollo and Elvis Calasang match.
Meanwhile, 2007 WPC runnerup Roberto Gomez will test the mettle of 2006 WPC runnerup Ralf “Kaiser” Souquet of Germany in the event which offers a total prize of $61,400.
“My loss in the WPC still hurts, but that’s life. Maybe next time, I’ll win it,” said Gomez who also lost to Peach in the WPC finals.
If Gomez wins his initial round assignment, he will meet another heavyweight and current national open champion, Lee Vann Corteza, in the next round.
The 28-year-old Corteza, the player of Negros Billiard Stable, is expected to beat the unheralded Boyet Drillon.
Former WPC winner Ronnie Alcano, who also bowed to Peach in the quarterfinal round of 2007 WPC, will open his bid against Niels Feijen of the Netherlands.
The winner of the match between Alcano and Feijen will meet Konstantin Stepanov of Russia or Leonardo Didal.
Alex Pagulayan, the 2004 WPC winner, will also compete with local hero Arturo Publico.
The other players in the event, which awards $20,000 to the champion, are Mika Immonen of Finland, Kunihiko Takahashi, Naoyuki Oi and Satoshi Kabatata of Japan, Thortsen Hohman of Germany, Corey Deuel and Johnny Archer of the United States, Yang Shing-chun, Wu Chia-ching and Chung Chien-te of Taiwan. (PR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 15, 2007 issue)
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